The Milk Revolution

[Admiral Yi]

There are many white people that don't drink milk, many Indians not regularly eating curry...etc.

That's right. 

[HVC]

Jacob: eating certain food is a behavior.

There are many white people that don't drink milk, many Indians not regularly eating curry...etc.

I don't think derspiess is saying he wouldn't hire any Indian because they all smell like curry, but that he wouldn't hire a particular Indian because he smelt strongly of curry (or sour milk, as his scenario actually stated). would you hire someone who smelled strongly of B.O.?

[garbon]

Jacob: eating certain food is a behavior.

There are many white people that don't drink milk, many Indians not regularly eating curry...etc.

I don't think derspiess is saying he wouldn't hire any Indian because they all smell like curry, but that he wouldn't hire a particular Indian because he smelt strongly of curry (or sour milk, as his scenario actually stated). would you hire someone who smelled strongly of B.O.?

Jacob the whole time has been talking about the "broadly/associated with entire ethnic group" element...while it appears derspiess has been focused on if just one individual stinks.

[Jacob]

Jacob the whole time has been talking about the "broadly/associated with entire ethnic group" element...while it appears derspiess has been focused on if just one individual stinks.

Yup.

I'm not saying "I won't hire this one guy because he really stinks" is racist.

I'm saying "I won't hire white people/ Southern Europeans/ Indians/ [whatever ethnic group] because they stink", even if you occasionally can smell the milk/garlic/curry/[whatever other characteristic food item you don't partake of yourself] on some members of that ethnic group is.

[Admiral Yi]

That's not where the conversation started.

[Jacob]

That's not where the conversation started.

You're right. Mea culpa.

I wish to change my initial position as follows:

I'd consider it racist to not hire someone because you detect a faint whiff of a culturally specific food or spice about them. If the smell is particularly pungent, it wouldn't be racist not to hire them, but you are probably best advised not to talk too much about how that person really stinks.

In the case of derspiess and Admiral Yi both of whom can safely not be hired for any or all reasons.

[Queequeg]

I don't think I ever realized that lactose intolerance was the predominant state.

I thought everyone knew that.

My family heritage is Dutch, and dairy farmers.  I didn't realize it either.